Latrobe Woman Says She Was Pressured By Roofer

LATROBE (KDKA) — A Westmoreland County attorney says he’s been contacted by three elderly homeowners who feel they have been pressured by a home improvement company based in Ohio.

Jason Huska, of Latrobe, says the documents the homeowners have signed are confusing and people feel they are being intimidated.

Linda Barney, of Latrobe, sustained serious damage to her roof as a result of high winds and hail. She was outside her house after the storms surveying the damage when she was approached by a man who said he could fix her roof for about $7,700.

However, he later said he needed $4,700 up front for materials and other items. Furthermore, the contractor, Paul Harris, warned that if she wanted to back out of the contract early, it would cost her $2,000.

Huska thinks the paperwork Barney signed was not a legal and binding contract at all. Huska told KDKA-TV that the homeowners he’s talked to believe they’re being taken advantage of.

The Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania says in the past month it’s received about a thousand inquiries related to storm damage in Westmoreland County.

A BBB spokeswoman says a lot of the complaints involve contractors pretending to be local companies, when they’re, in fact, based in other states.